Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zanissa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zanissa’, characterized by its erect flowering stems; light orange, red purple and yellow-colored flowers with dark purple spots; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybridacultivar Zanissa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zanissa’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeriacultivars with attractive flower colors and excellent postproductionlongevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross made by the Inventor inHillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybridaselection identified as 41197-002, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent, with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified asHA07, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeriawas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Hillegom,The Netherlands in 1994. The selection of this new Alstroemeria wasbased on its attractive flower colors.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions taken in acontrolled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, has shown thatthe unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zanissa have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zanissa’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zanissa’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Erect flowering stems.

2. Light orange, red purple and yellow-colored flowers with dark purplespots.

3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria are most similar to plants of the parentselections. However, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plantsof the female parent in plant growth habit; and plants of the newAlstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent in flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective viewof typical flowers of ‘Zanissa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations, measurements andvalues describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. andnight temperatures ranged from 5 to 10° C. Plants used for thephotograph and description were about 12 months from planting rootdivisions.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zanissa.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identifiedas 41197-002, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified asHA07, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By root divisions.

Root description.—Fibrous; white, 155A, in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Rhizomes.—Shape: Round. Diameter: About 15 to 35 cm. Texture: Smooth.Color: 155D.

Plant description:

Plant habit.—Upright; freely basal branching, bushy appearance.

Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 90 to 100 days.

Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 180 to 200.

Plant height.—About 140 to 180 cm.

Plant diameter (spread).—At base of plant: About 25 to 30 cm. At top ofplant: About 60 to 80 cm.

Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 110 to 160 cm.Diameter: About 8 to 10 mm. Internode length: About 8 cm. Strength:Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137A.

Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length: About 4 to 17cm. Width: About 1 to 3 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire, minutely crimped. Texture: Upper surface:Smooth, glabrous. Lower surface: Rough, glabrous. Venation pattern:Parallel. Color: Young and fully developed foliage, upper surface: 137A.Young and fully developed foliage, lower surface: 137B. Venation, uppersurface: Close to 137A. Venation, lower surface: Close to 137B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in compoundumbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering.Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from the spring throughthe fall in The Netherlands.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 20 to 25 days.

Flower buds.—(showing color).—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 to2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 65A.

Umbel length.—About 20 to 25 cm.

Umbel diameter.—About 20 to 30 cm.

Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 30.

Flower diameter.—About 7 cm.

Flower depth (height).—About 5.5 cm.

Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls. Size: Inner perianthsegment: Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Outer perianthsegment: Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Inner perianthsegments: Lanceolate. Outer perianth segments: Obovate. Apex: Innerperianth segments: Acute. Outer perianth segments: Emarginate. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire, minutely crimped. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;velvety. Color: Inner perianth segments: When opening and fully opened,upper surface: Lateral segments: Distal central spot, 60A to 61A;surrounded by 62A; midsection and towards base, 9C. Spots, 30 to 40 innumber; 187A in color. Lower segment: Distal central spot, 60A to 61A;surrounded by 62A. Spots, 10 to 15 in number; 187A in color. Whenopening and fully opened, lower surface: Lateral segments: Distalcentral spot, 60B; surrounded by 62A, midsection and towards base, 11B.Lower segment: Distal central spot, 60B; surrounded by 62A. Outerperianth segments: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Centralspot, 60A to 61A; surrounded by 62A to 62B. When opening and fullyopened, lower surface: Central spot, 60B; surrounded by 62A to 62B.

Pedicels.—Length: About 1 to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:Strong. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six. Anther length:About 5 to 10 mm. Anther color: 148A. Filament length: About 4 mm.Filament color: 70B. Pollen color: 200A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:One. Stigma color: 70A. Style length: About 4 to 5 cm. Style color: 70B.

Fruit.—Shape: Ovoid. Color: 163A. Fertile: No.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria has not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Alstroemerias.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plantnamed ‘Zanissa’, as illustrated and described.